Yuva Brigade activist murdered overdispute during Hanuma Jayanti procession in T Narsipur

MYSURU: A volunteer of the Yuva Brigade was murdered by a group of men over a dispute during Hanuma Jayanti celebrations at T Narsipur on Sunday night. The police have arrested two people so far and are on the lookout for four more.

The victim is Venugopal Naik (30), a resident of Srirampura Colony in T Narsipur. The police have registered an FIR against Manikanta, Sandesh, Anil, Shankar, Manju and Haris and have arrested two of them. Manikanta and Sandesh have been named the prime accused. Earlier in the day on Monday, Home Minister G Parameshwara said in Hubballi that the accused will not be spared and they will be arrested soon.

The grieving wife and family members of Venugopal Naik.

During the Hanuma Jayanti procession on July 8, the organisers had barred parking of vehicles near the temple. An argument ensued between Venugopal and some of the accused when he prevented them from parking their motorcycle near the temple. Also, during the procession, a poster of late actor Puneeth Rajkumar had been placed in front of a portrait of Bharat Mata to which some people had raised objection. Venugopal had then got the poster removed stating that no individual’s photograph was needed during the procession.

At that time, there was no objection from anyone to Venugopal’s decision, but on Sunday afternoon, Manikanta, Sandesh and the others called him to discuss the issue and they had an argument. Later at night, they called him for a compromise when they stabbed Venugopal, according to his wife Poornima.

Mysuru district Superintendent of Police Seema Latkar ruled out any communal angle.

Mysuru district superintendent of police Seema Latkar said, “The Hanuma Jayanti procession was held between 3 pm and 10 pm on July. There was an argument between the deceased and the accused over parking of a motorcycle near the temple and regarding a poster of Puneeth Rajkumar during the procession. During the procession, there was no incident and it concluded peacefully”.

“On Sunday night, there was an argument while removing all the flexes and banners. The accused Venugopal near a service centre in the town where they hit him on the head with a bottle. Some of the others shifted him to a hospital, but he was dead by that time. We have arrested two people and we will arrest the others soon”, the SP said. The officer also ruled out any communal angle in the incident.

Workers of the Yuva Brigade staged a protest in front of an ambulance carrying the body of Venugopal Naik.

On Monday, members of the Yuva Brigade staged a protest in front of the ambulance after the post-mortem examination was conducted at the K R Hospital in Mysuru. They demanded that the deputy commissioner visit them, assure Rs 25 lakh compensation to the family of the deceased and action against the accused.